Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan pitched in Japan in July, but it was U.S. beef, not 101.9-mph fastballs. Taking part in a U.S. Meat Export Federation promotion of U.S. beef, the Texas rancher and former professional fireballer threw the ceremonial first pitch at a July contest between the Orix Buffaloes and Chiba Lotte Marines, now managed by Bobby Valentine. Ryan pitched for the Texas Rangers when Valentine was its manager.